Mountain Views News          Saturday, July 3, 2010

11

GOOD FOOD & DRINK

 Mountain Views News Saturday, July 3, 2010 

TABLE FOR TWO 

By Peter Dills

Happy4th of July, Now.....

Let’s eat some Hot Dogs....errr, Pastrami

CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR ANNOUNCES THE BEST CALIFORNIA WINES

At the 15th Annual California’s Grape & Gourmet, the state’s premier California wine event 2,786 wine entries were 
received from more than 600 participating wineries. Seventy-two professional wine judges awarded 1,915 medals, including 
37 Double Gold, 195 Gold, 1,073 Silver and 610 Bronze awards. Award winners include:

 

BEST OF REGION AWARDS

BEST OF NORTH COAST RED GOLD 94

Michael-David

2007 Mendocino County Sloth Zinfandel

BEST OF NORTH COAST WHITE DOUBLE GOLD 98

V. Sattui Winery

2009 Anderson Valley White Riesling

BEST OF SONOMA RED GOLD 94

Buena Vista

2006 Carneros Syrah Vinyard Series

BEST OF SONOMA WHITE GOLD 94

Valley of the Moon Winery

2009 Sonoma County Rosato di Sangi Sangiovese

BEST OF NAPA RED GOLD 95

Napa Cellars

2007 Napa Valley Zinfandel

BEST OF NAPA WHITE DOUBLE GOLD 98

V. Sattui Winery

2008 Napa Valley Riesling Select Late Harvest 

BEST OF GREATER BAY RED DOUBLE GOLD 98

Mitchell Katz Winery

2007 Clark’s Corner Livermore Valley At Ruby Hill

BEST OF GREATER BAY WHITE (tie) GOLD 95

Martin Ranch Winery

2009 Santa Clara Valley J.D. Hurley Sauvignon Blanc

BEST OF GREATER BAY WHITE (tie) GOLD 95

Storrs Winery

2008 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

BEST OF NORTH-CENTRAL COAST RED GOLD 94

Pierce Ranch Vineyards

2007 San Antonio Petite Sirah

BEST OF NORTH-CENTRAL COAST WHITE GOLD 95

Cypress Vineyards

2009 Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc

BEST OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COAST RED GOLD 95

Justin Vineyards & Winery

2007 Paso Robles Isosceles (unfiltered)

BEST OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COAST WHITE GOLD 95

Vina Robles

2009 Estate Bottled Huerhuero Paso Robles White4

BEST OF SOUTH COAST RED GOLD 94

Vindemia Vineyard

2008 Temecula Valley Vineyard Temecula Valley Cabernet Franc

BEST OF SOUTH COAST WHITE GOLD 94

Callaway Vineyard and Winery

2009 Temecula Valley Rosé of Sangiovese Special Selection

BEST OF SIERRA FOOTHILLS RED GOLD 95

Deaver Vineyards

2007 Amador County Zinfandel

BEST OF SIERRA FOOTHILLS WHITE GOLD 94

Davis Family Vineyards

2008 Sierra Foothills White Rhone Blend, Cuvee Luke

BEST OF LODI RED DOUBLE GOLD 98

Ramos Torres Winery

2007 Lodi Branches Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST OF LODI WHITE GOLD 95

Vino Con Brio

2009 Estate Bottled Amorosa Lodi Brillante

BEST OF OTHER CALIFORNIA RED GOLD 94

Tierra Del Rio Vineyards

2008 Clarksburg Merlot

BEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE RED DOUBLE GOLD 98

Red Rock Winery

2008 California Malbec Reserve

BEST OF CALIFORNIA STATE WHITE DOUBLE GOLD 98

Barefoot Cellars

NV California Barefoot Bubbly Brut Sparkling California Champagne

 BEST OF CALIFORNIA

BEST BARBERA GOLD 94

Jeff Runquist Wines

2008 Ambra Vineyard Amador County Barbera Reserve

BEST BORDEAUX VARIETAL BLEND DOUBLE GOLD 98

Sterling

2008 Central Coast Meritage Vintner’s Collection

BEST CABERNET FRANC GOLD 95

Nevada City Winery

2007 Sierra Foothills Cabernet Franc

 

BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON DOUBLE GOLD 98

Bell Wine Cellars

2007 Napa Valley Claret Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST CHARDONNAY DOUBLE GOLD 98

Buena Vista

2007 Estate Bottled Ramal Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay Vineyard Series

BEST GEWURZTRAMINER GOLD 94

Navarro Vineyards

2008 Estate Bottled Anderson Valley Gewurztraminer

BEST MERLOT DOUBLE GOLD 98

V. Sattui Winery

2007 Estate Bottled Henry Ranch Carneros Merlot

BEST MUSCAT GOLD 94

Eberle Winery

2009 Estate Bottled Paso Robles Muscat Canelli

BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL BLEND GOLD 94

Eagle Castle Winery

2007 Paso Robles Royal Red

BEST PETITE SIRAH GOLD 94

Pierce Ranch Vineyards

2007 San Antonio Petite Sirah

BEST PINOT GRIGIO DOUBLE GOLD 98

Windsor Vineyards

2009 California Pinot Grigio Private Reserve Series

BEST PINOT NOIR DOUBLE GOLD 98

Bargetto Winery

2007 Estate Bottled Regan Estate Vineyards Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir Reserved

BEST RED GENERIC (tie) GOLD 94

Fenestra Winery

NV California True Red, Lot 24

BEST RED GENERIC (tie) GOLD 94

Karmère Winery & Vineyard

2008 California Shenandoah Valley Empress Juana Primabera Mother of Manuelito

BEST RED RHONE BLEND GOLD 95

Wyneland Estates

2007 Lodi GMA Proprieter’s Reserve

BEST RIESLING DOUBLE GOLD 98

Kendall-Jackson

2008 Monterey County Riesling Vintner’s Reserve

BEST SANGIOVESE GOLD 95

Nello Olivo

2007 El Dorado County Sangiovese

BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC GOLD 95

Cypress Vineyards

2009 Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc

BEST SPARKLING WINE DOUBLE GOLD 98

Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards

2005 Carneros Blanc de Blancs Brut

BEST SYRAH DOUBLE GOLD 98

Mitchel Katz Winery

2007 Clark’s Corner Livermore Valley At Ruby Hill

BEST TEMPRANILLO DOUBLE GOLD 98

Convergence Vineyards

2008 El Dorado Tempranillo

BEST VIOGNIER DOUBLE GOLD 98

McManis Family Vineyards

2009 California Viognier

BEST WHITE ZINFANDEL GOLD 94

Barefoot Cellars

NV California White Zinfandel

BEST ZINFANDEL GOLD 95

Rock Wall Wine Co.

2008 Sonoma County Zinfandel Reserve

 
If there is nothing more American than a Hot Dog, why am I writing 
about Pastrami? Read on, my loyal readers. My late Pappy always 
told me, “Son, never debate sex, politics or religion.” I am adding 
one additional item to his list, a Sandwich/Dip. You probably 
couldn’t go more than a couple blocks in most cities without coming across an American 
Sandwich Shop. The sandwich may be the most versatile food item ever created. I eat them 
for lunch, dinner and, sometimes, even for breakfast. We are lucky, for in the San Gabriel 
area we have a number of All-Stars sandwich shops to choose from. There is Tops on Walnut, 
Connel’s Grinders on E. Washington, and The Hat, which has several locations. The Hat has 
been around since 1951, and I am glad to say, it is a family-run business. They are actively 
involved in the community, and a fully demonstrated fact when Ron “Corky” Conzonire 
held the position of President of the Tournament of Roses, from 2008-2009.

 The Pastrami Sandwich or “Dip,” as the menu proffers, is the Hat’s signature dish. Sure, 
they have burgers, hot dogs and salads, but the menu item that keeps them coming back is 
the “Pastrami Dip.” It is a World Famous plunge of sandwich into ‘au jus’. I am planning on 
a trip to South America next month and I am going to ask everyone I meet, about LA-based 
World Famous Dishes. I’m just kidding… a little. But, I do develop a chuckle in that self-
anointed phrase. The World Famous Pastrami Sandwich is reasonably priced ($6.99). The 
meat is thinly sliced and piled generously high. The bread is light and fluffy (maybe a little 
too light and fluffy in my opinion). Next visit I 
will try it on regular sandwich bread. My sources 
inform me that The Hat goes through 14 tons of 
Pastrami per week. By my calculations, that is a lot 
of sandwiches. My dining companion “Mike” had 
the Hot Dog ($1.99) and a huge portion of fries 
($3.09). He is on a diet it appears. The prices are 
right at The Hat, everything is under ($10). If you 
haven’t checked it out, you will love the Dip. For 
the location near you, they have a slick web site 
www.thehat.com.

 The Club House at The Santa Anita Race Track 
serves a corned beef sandwich ($7.95) that should 
be renowned as a Southern California Legend. 
The tasty sandwich is reason enough to go to the 
track, although, I often spend considerably more 
money on some turtles that enter through the 
starting gate before enjoying their leisurely stroll 
around the track while they view the mountains. 
I can give you an inside tip, this corned beef 
sandwich is a guaranteed winner every day. 

 Listen to Dining with Dills on 790 AM KABC 
Talk Radio at 5 PM on Sundays; you can always 
email me at the chefknows @yahoo.com


To Dr. Matt Bosse and all of the 
members of the Sierra Madre 4th 
of July Committee.....

A HEARTFELT THANKS FOR ALL 
OF YOUR HARDWORK AND 
DEDICATION TO THIS VERY 
SPECIAL WEEKEND!